Species › Other fish

Red tail shark tank mates and minimum tank size

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Red tail sharks grow to 13 cm (5.1 in). Keep one per tank. They need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) and pH 6.5–7.5.

Minimum tank

243 L (64 US gal), at least 120 cm (47 in) long

Adult size

13 cm (5.1 in)

Temperature

22–26 °C (72–79 °F)

pH

pH 6.5–7.5

Group

one per tank

Red tail shark minimum tank size

Red tail sharks need at least 243 L (64 US gal), in a tank at least 120 cm (47 in) long.

That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 13 cm (5.1 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (52 cm (20 in)).

Red tail shark tank mates

Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against red tail sharks by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.

Compatible (28)

• Black neon tetra
• Black skirt tetra
• Bristlenose pleco
• Bronze corydoras
• Cherry barb
• Clown loach
• Common pleco
• Congo tetra
• Dwarf gourami
• Glass catfish
• Glowlight tetra
• Guppy
• Harlequin rasbora
• Honey gourami
• Kribensis
• Lemon tetra
• Neon tetra
• Nerite snail
• Otocinclus
• Panda corydoras
• Pearl gourami
• Peppered corydoras
• Platy
• Serpae tetra
• Swordtail
• Tiger barb
• Yoyo loach
• Zebra danio

With care (14)

• AngelfishThe only temperature that suits both is 25.6–26 °C (78–79 °F), set by angelfish and red tail sharks. That leaves no margin.
• BettaBettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as red tail sharks, many do not.
• Celestial pearl danioCelestial pearl danios (2.1 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger red tail sharks (13 cm).
• Chili rasboraChili rasboras (3.5 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger red tail sharks (13 cm).
• DiscusThe only temperature that suits both is 26 °C (79 °F), set by discus and red tail sharks. That leaves no margin.
• Ember tetraEmber tetras (2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger red tail sharks (13 cm).
• Endler's livebearerEndler's livebearers (2.5 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger red tail sharks (13 cm).
• Kuhli loachThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.5, set by red tail sharks and kuhli loaches. That leaves no margin.
• MollyThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.5, set by mollies and red tail sharks. That leaves no margin.
• Mystery snailThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.2–7.5, set by mystery snails and red tail sharks. That leaves no margin.
• Paradise fishThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by red tail sharks and paradise fish. That leaves no margin.
• Pygmy corydorasPygmy corydoras (3 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger red tail sharks (13 cm).
• Rosy barbThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by red tail sharks and rosy barbs. That leaves no margin.
• White cloud mountain minnowThe only temperature that suits both is 22 °C (72 °F), set by red tail sharks and white cloud mountain minnows. That leaves no margin.

Not compatible (10)

• Boeseman's rainbowfishBoeseman's rainbowfish need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); red tail sharks need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Cardinal tetraRed tail sharks need pH 6.5–7.5; cardinal tetras need pH 4.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Cherry shrimpRed tail sharks grow to 13 cm, big enough to eat adult cherry shrimp (4 cm).
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlidRed tail sharks need pH 6.5–7.5; cockatoo dwarf cichlids need pH 6.0. No pH suits both.
• Convict cichlidConvict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so red tail sharks would be harassed.
• German blue ramGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); red tail sharks need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Red tail sharks need pH 6.5–7.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger red tail sharks (13 cm).
• GoldfishRed tail sharks need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F); goldfish need 15.6–21.1 °C (60–70 °F). No temperature suits both.
• OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; red tail sharks grow to 13 cm.
• Rummy-nose tetraRed tail sharks need pH 6.5–7.5; rummy-nose tetras need pH 5.5–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Siamese algae eaterRed tail sharks fight shark-shaped cyprinids, and Siamese algae eaters are one of them.

Sources

Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.

Behaviour notes are from Seriously Fish, read 2026-10-26.

Check against another species Plan a tank